Napkin band note system

ABSTRACT

A napkin or eating utensil band, wrap or holder imprinted with a quotation or written material. The napkin band may be made of paper, ribbon, cardboard, cloth, foil, metal, plastic, glass or any other suitable material. One or both surfaces of the napkin band may be imprinted. The printed material may be in any direction or configuration, and any font, style or font size, or any combination thereof, may be used. The written material may comprise a quotation from a book, a famous quotation or saying, a proverb, a factual statement, Bible quotes, a joke, a riddle, a trivia question, a short poem, lyrics (or partial lyrics) from a song, brain teaser, haiku, or the like. The napkin band may be used in a restaurant or facility where books or similar material are sold, so the written material may include quotations or facts from a book or similar material on sale may be used in order to promote sales of the book or material. The book or source material may be identified on the napkin band.

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/089,868, filed Aug. 18, 2008, by Gary Kiviniemi, and entitled to that filing date for priority. The specification, drawings, and complete disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/089,868 are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the imprinting of quotations and other material on napkin bands, wraps or bands, and a system for the promotion of sales of originating material.

BACKGROUND

A variety of napkin or eating utensil bands or holders are known in the prior art. In the food services industry, most such bands or holders are simple slips of plain or colored paper, or plastic bags, and are designed to be discarded immediately upon use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows examples of an unrolled napkin band with imprinted material in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows additional examples of an unrolled napkin band with imprinted material, including logos, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows examples of a napkin band, wrap or holder 2 imprinted with a quotation or written material 4. The napkin band 2 may be made of paper, ribbon, cardboard, cloth, foil, metal, plastic, glass or any other suitable material known in the art. In one exemplary embodiment, the napkin band 2 is made of a relatively cheap, disposable material such as paper in rectangular form, with opposing ends of the rectangle fastened together with adhesive or glue so as to wrap around a napkin and/or silverware or eating utensils. In one embodiment, the band is approximately 1.5 inches wide by 4.5 inches long, although other sizes and shapes may be used. In another embodiment, the band or wrap may be an envelope or bag enclosing or covering the napkin and/or silverware.

One or both surfaces of the napkin band 2 may be imprinted. In one exemplary embodiment, the outer surface (with respect to the napkin) is imprinted. In another exemplary embodiment, the inner surface (with respect to the napkin) is imprinted. The printed material may be in any direction or configuration: e.g., normal, sideways, upside down, backwards, vertical, etc.). Any font, style or font size, or any combination thereof, may be used. In one exemplary embodiment, the printed material may use different fonts, styles and sizes on the same band.

The written material 4 may comprise a quotation from a book, a famous quotation or saying, a proverb, a factual statement, Bible quotes, a joke, a riddle, a trivia question, a short poem, lyrics (or partial lyrics) from a song, brain teaser, haiku, or the like. In one embodiment, where the napkin band is used in a restaurant or facility where books or similar material are sold, quotations or facts from a book or similar material on sale may be used in order to promote sales of the book or material. The book or source material may be identified on the napkin band. The fact that the book or source material is available in the store or facility also may be stated on the band. Examples of such quotations are shown in FIG. 1.

In another embodiment, the outer surface may present a riddle or trivia question, with the answer to the riddle or question imprinted on the same surface or the opposite surface (i.e., the inner or outer surface) of the band.

In yet another embodiment, the outer surface may present a series of facts, which may be part of a theme. Example of American history facts used in this manner are shown in FIG. 2.

In yet another embodiment, one surface may present a song lyric, with the name of the song and singer (or band or performer) imprinted on the opposite surface. In another embodiment, the song lyric may have one or more blank words, with the missing word or words imprinted on the opposite surface.

Other material may be imprinted on the band, including, but not limited to, advertisements, promotional materials, coupons, giveaways, and the like, as seen in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, a printed or embossed logo or symbol may be printed on one side of the band, with the printed message or material on the other side. The logo or symbol may correspond to the content of the printed message or material. For example, an image of a baseball, football, golf ball, tool(s), musical instruments, plates, silverware, book, pottery, toys, notebook paper, or the like, may be used for appropriate printed material.

In yet another embodiment, the material may be imprinted on ribbons or similar material for use as party favors, at wedding receptions, or the like. For example, ribbons with personalized, individual messages can be used at a wedding reception.

In yet another embodiment, the material may be printed on a band used to hold a pamphlet, military pamphlet, menu, certificate, diploma, poster, or similar item.

Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples have been chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited for particular uses contemplated. Even though specific embodiments of this invention have been described, they are not to be taken as exhaustive. There are several variations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto. 

1. A napkin band, comprising: a rectangular first piece with an outer and an inner surface, and a first end and second end, said first end attached to the second end; and a written statement imprinted on one of the surfaces.
 2. The napkin band of claim 1, wherein the written statement comprises a quotation from a book.
 3. The napkin band of claim 2, wherein the written statement further comprises identification of the book.
 4. The napkin band of claim 1, wherein the written statement is imprinted on the inner surface.
 5. The napkin band of claim 1, wherein the written statement is imprinted on the outer surface.
 6. A method for promoting the sale of a book or written material in a store, comprising the steps of: imprinting a quotation from the book or written material on the surface of a napkin band; and identifying the book or written material as being available in a particular store or location. 